Improvement in latches for gates



` To all whom it may con-cera: i V

latch and inner plate reversed. i

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WILLIAMR. cooperen,- or WnITEsToWN, ANew YORK.

Mov-

l niaPRovrzMrmnr IN LATCHES :E'oRYeAa-Es.

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1.The ScheduleV referred, to vin these Letters Patent andmaking part cf the same.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. Goonnron, of Whitestown, in the countyV of Oneida and State of New- York, liave invented a new and useful Improvel ment iu Gate-Latches; andIdo'hercby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enableothers skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had `to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specifica- Figure 1 'is aside View of my improved latch, part oi' the inner plate being brokelnaway.

`F1gure2 is a. vertical scctionof the saine, taken l through the line wx,.g.1.`

Figure 3 -is a side view of the same, showing the ',Figure 4is a side View` of aimodilied form of thc saine,ipart of the inner plate being broken away.

Figure 51s a detail sectional view of the same, taken through the lineg/y, iig. `4. l

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its olijectto furnish an imL proved drop-latch for gates, which shall be simple in' construction, convenientin use, and eticctive in operation and It'consists in certain'noi-el features of construction hereinafter specified. l

A represents the catch, which is securely attached j tothe front gatepost.

'B is the outer, and

C is 'the inner plate of the latch.

The louter plate B is rnade with anges at its upper and lower edges, to receive and support the inner plate C. l

The outer plate B'if formed with two ribs or tongues b upon its` inner surface, andthe inner plate O is formed with two vertical tonguesV or ribs, c1, upon its inner surface, directly'opposite the ribs b of the outen plate B. l v

D is the latch, which is formed 'with the thumbi Piece, d', projecting out between the side edgesot' the plates A and B. l

l The latch D is formed with two vertical grooves upon cach of its sides, which fit upon theribs or tongues b and 4c ofthe plates `B` and O, so as to compel-thc latch D to move up'anddown perpendicularly.

, The lower end or catch :Z2 of the latch D projects through a hole in the bottom flange of the plate B, and its outer corner is beveled oli, so that,as the gate 4swings shut, the latch D may be raised automatically by 'striking against the catch A attached to the gatepost, and may drop by its own weight to fasten the gate.

t? isa stationary catch or stop cast upon the lower edge of the plate C, and projecting through a hole in the bottom ange of the plate B.

The stop o2 is made thick, so that, whileits one side projects in to -the hole in the bottom Bange of the plate B, its other side may project into a recess inthe gat-ebar, to assist in supporting the latch against the shock of stopping the gate.`

The inner plate G is formed with ribs or tongues cl i upon both of its sides, so that, byl reversing the posi- -tions of the plate C and latch D, the latch may be ad-A justed'for a gate swinging in either direction.

In the case of gates swinging in both directions, two independent drop-latches, D, may be (used, tnovingup'and down upon the ribs or tongues b c1, and each being provided with a thumb-piece fl. In thisY case theplate O need have ribs or tongues Vcl formed, only upon one side, and the latch may bel support-.edi against the shock of stopping the gate by projections cast upon saidplate O and entering recessesin the A gate-bar. `I do not'desire to be understood to claim broadly the combination of latches D, and outer and inner platesiB C; but

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new 'and desire to 'secure by-Letters Patent- V l. A gate-fastening, formed of the latches D D,

grooved as shown, and the outer and inner plates 'B 

